Lee Peltier's last encounter with Arsenal marked the end of his time with
boyhood club Liverpool, but he is confident that his latest meeting with
Arsène Wenger’s side will be another pivotal moment on his way back to the
top.

Eyes on the ball: Huddersfield's Lee Peltier (left) has point to prove against ArsenalPhoto: GETTY IMAGES

By Graham Chase

11:59PM GMT 29 Jan 2011

Peltier, 24, was part of a Liverpool side that was pulled apart in a 6-3 League Cup quarter final defeat at Anfield four years ago, with the right-back marking Julio Baptista, who scored four goals and also had a penalty saved.

While Cesc Fabregas had been in the Arsenalteam for a couple of years, it was an early glimpse of the potential of youngsters Alex Song and Denilson.

It was Toxteth-born Peltier’s fourth and final appearance for the club and after a loan spell at Hull, his mother persuaded him to join Yeovil in the summer of 2007 and he moved on to League One promotion chasers Huddersfield in 2009.

It is a far cry from his days of trying to impress Rafael Benítez, and it would come as no surprise to know that he is keen to prove a point at the Emirates on Sunday afternoon.

“Even back then you could see the ability they had and since then they’ve matured and become better players,” Peltier said. “The likes of Denilson and Song has become one of the best central midfielders around and Fabregas probably already was then!

“The result wasn’t great but it was a good experience to play with people like Steven Gerrard and Robbie Fowler in front of the Kop. I just wish Baptista was playing on Sunday because I’d leave a bit on him this time!”

It is a quite a step from Anfield to Huish Park but Peltier feels his time at Yeovil was the making of him.

It did not take him long to win over his fellow professionals at Huddersfield. He was voted ‘Players Player of the Year’ last season as Lee Clark’s side fell short in the play-offs but feels Huddersfield can finish the job this time around.

Not even facing the best passing team in the country will dissuade the Terriers from attempting to beat Arsenal at their own game and Peltier thinks that on Sunday will be a way to show the progress being made under forthright owner Dean Hoyle.

“We’re a footballing team and we’re not going to go about it any other way,” he said.

“It’s a great club, one of the most ambitious clubs in the country at the moment, with the manager and the chairman and the staff, the players that have come in.

“It’s definitely a club on the rise. We’ve got a squad that I think could go and play in the Championship right now and it’s just getting there at the moment.

“I think I played a handful of games before the Arsenal game and I didn’t really get a look in after that so I went out on loan to play and see what the real world is like. In the long run it’s benefited me and I’ve come on a lot since I left Liverpool and I’m happy where I am.”